How did we get here?!

As I was laying in bed on Sunday night, visualizing my training schedule for the marathon (yes, I do this often, LOL), I silently wondered to myself:

How did we get here?!

I mean, really — how did we do it? After running 13, 14, 15, 16 and now 18 milers, I am seriously stunned into silence over the whole thing.

I guess it might sound weird that I’m *this* surprised at the sheer fact that we are indeed doing this thing, but I truly am. I can’t say it enough — I had such a different set of expectations going into training. I was anxious, worried that I’d wind up injured somehow and totally up in my head about the whole thing. Quite honestly, the closer it got to marathon training time, the more anxious I got. The more I was started to honestly dread going into such an intense training cycle.

But something changed.

I don’t know when.
I don’t really even know how.
But I am in love with this entire experience.

And now that we’re just 8 weeks (!) out from the big day, I am at the point where if someone told me to go run 26.2 miles tomorrow? My reaction would *not* be to scoff and roll my eyes. Nope. My reaction would be – Bring. It. On.

We can do this. Our training is doing just what it’s supposed to be doing.

Our training is teaching us to quiet our mind and to let our bodies prove that it can do anything we want it to if we just let it be to do the work.

And THAT, my friends, is one huge, ginormous breakthrough for this soon-to-be-marathoning duo.

So yeah, back when I told myself not to fear 26.2, when I wrote that letter to myself, giving myself this very pep talk?

…Get back to basics. Stop looking at your training plan as well, a ‘training plan’ and start looking at each run as just that: a run. Something that up until recently, you adored. Stop letting anxiety and fear steal your joy in these runs. Embrace every single mile, particularly those long runs you’re gearing yourself up for in the next few weeks. The long runs that will push you into new PDR territory. Those very same long runs that will give you the confidence that your body can and will push through all 26.2 miles on October 7.

And remember: you are strong. You are fit. You are ready. And most of all? You are a joyful runner.

Now that I revisit that letter, those words — especially the part about being a joyful runner —  ring so much truer than I ever imagined they possibly would.
Not gonna lie…I never saw this one coming.
…but I’m SO glad that I ‘see’ it now.

26.2, I think I love you.

Source: google.com via Jess on Pinterest